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a/    LP   ^^lAAr-^-^-r-e^n' 
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PRINCETON,     N.    J. 


Divisicii.. 

Section ..^..f^/'-J     I 

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4 


LETTER 


PROTRACTED     MEETINGS 


ADDRESSED    TO    THE    CHURCH    IN    PARIS, 


BY    WILLIAM    R.    WEEKS, 

Late  Minister  to  that  Chiuxh. 


mtita: 

PKESK    OF    WILLIAM    WILLIAMS,   GENESEE   STREET. 

1832. 


To  THE  Church  in  Paris  : 

Dear  Bi-ethren — The  following  letter  was  forwarded  to  your  moderator  several  days 
before  yom-  late  protracted  meeting  commenced.  Not  having  heard  of  its  being  com- 
mmiicated  to  you,  and  wisliing  to  have  my  sentiments  on  this  subject  understood  by 
the  public,  I  now  address  you  through  the  press. 

Mai-ch  21,  1832. 


LETTER,    &C. 

Utica,  FchnuuyH  1832. 
To  THE  Church  in  Pauis  : 

Dear  Brethren — Through  tiie  Kev.  Daniel  A.  Clark,  your 
moderator,  1  have  received  your  invitation  to  attend  a  protracted 
meeting  which  you  have  appointed.  For  this  mark  of  attention 
and  respect,  and  for  all  the  instances  of  kindness  experienced 
at  your  hands,  through  more  than  ten  years  residence  among 
you,  1  beg  you  to  accept  my  corchal  thanks.  In  days  that  are 
past  we  have  often  "  taken  sweet  counsel  together,  and  walked 
to  the  house  of  God  in  company  ;"  and  the  remembrance  of 
these  things  will  be  gratefully  cherished  by  mc  while  I  have  any 
sensibility  to  the  joys  or  the  sorrows  of  life  ;  and  will,  I  trust, 
be  looked  back  upon,  both  by  yon  and  me,  from  the  eternal 
world,  with  still  deeper  interest,  when  the  consequences  of 
preaching  and  of  hearing  the  word  of  God  shall  be  developed 
in  all  their  amazing  reality. 

Such  an  invitation  from  you  I  could  not  find  in  my  heart  to 
treat  w'ith  neglect ;  and  yet,  I  cannot  tell  whether  1  ought  to 
comply  with  it,  or  to  excuse  myself,  till  I  am  informed  what 
sort  of  a  meeting  you  intend  to  have.  The  mere  circumstance 
of  having  religious  exercises  continued  more  than  one  day,  would 
not  be  a  reason  in  my  mind  for  declining  yourinvitation.  I  think 
you  have  never  found  any  reluctance  in  me  to  attend  religious 
exercises  as  often  and  as  long  as  encouragement  was  afTorded 
for  them  by  the  attendance  of  the  people.  In  two  or  three 
instances,  you  know,  when  some  special  attention  appeared 
among  you,  I  wore  myself  down,  by  attending  upon  such  exer- 
cises beyond  my  strength,  till  I  was  laid  upon  a  sick  bed  in 
consequence.  And  I  always  did  it  with  pleasure  ;  for  I  have 
always  esteemed  it  a  privilege  to  have  op|)ortunities  multiplied 
of  declaring  "the  glorious  gospel  of  the  l)lessed  God." 

I  should  love  to  attend  a  protracted  meeting  of  such  a  kind 
as  I  can  easily  conceive  of,  in  my  own  mind,  though  1  may  not 
be  able  to  describe  it  upon  paper  so  clearly  as  I  could  wish. 
It  should  be  a  meeting  for  which  the  church  had  previously 
prepared  the  way,  by  turning  from  their  backslidings.  putting 
away  all  their  sins,  and  (Migaging  in  the  diligent  dischaigc  of 
every  duty.  They  should  ha\e  '■  put  away  iVom  among  them 
all  bitterness,  and  wrath,  and  clamor,  and  envy,  and  evil 
speaking,  and  be  kindly  affcctioned  one  toward  another  with 
brotherly  love."  They  should  have  looked  closely  into  their 
own  hearts,  and  have  deeply  humbled  themselves  before  God. 
They  should  have  carefully  looked  after  their  wandering  bieth- 


4  LETTER    ON    PROTRACTED    MEETINGS. 

ren,  and  have  administered  the  disciphne  of  the  gospel  in  the 
true  spirit  of  it.     They  should  feel  their  dependence  upon  God 
for  every  blessing,  and  not  be  looking  to  creatures  for  help. 
They  should  realize  that  God  has  a  right  to  grant  or  withhold 
the  influences  of  his  Spirit,  as  he  may  see  best,  and  feel  that 
they  have  no  claims  upon  him,  but  are  utterly  unworthy  of  the 
favors  they  ask.     They  should  be  disposed  to  come  to  God  with 
the  temper  of  dutiful  and  affectionate  children,  who  have  more 
confidence  in  the  judgment  of  a  wise  and  good  Father,  than 
they  have  in  their  own  ;  and  should  be  as  willing  to  be  denied 
the  favors  they  ask,  if  he  shall  see  that  to  be  best,  as  they  are 
thankfully  to  accept  what  he  shall  be  pleased  to  bestow.    They 
should  desire  a  revival  of  religion,  chiefly  that  God  may  be 
honored ;  and  while  they  are  prepared  to  rejoice  in  the  triumphs 
of  his  grace,  they  should  be  also  prepared  to  rejoice  in  his  ado- 
rable sovereignty,  and  his  glorious  justice,  which  are  always 
displayed  at  such  a  time,  and  bo  willing  he  should  "  have  mercy 
on  whom  he  will  have  mercy,  and  harden  whom  he  will." 
They  should   put  away  from  them,  as  utterly   unworthy  of 
christians,  that  arrogant  spirit,  which  aspires  to  dictate  to  the 
Almighty,  and  pretends  to  "take  God  at  his  word,  and  hold 
him  to  his  promise,"  when  he  has  not  promised  in  his  word  the 
conversion  of  any  particular  sinner,  nor  of  any  sinners  in  a 
particular  place,  nor  at  a  particular  time.     They  should  be 
prepared  to  hear,  and  desire  to  hear,  and  take  effectual  mea- 
sures to  hear,  on  such  an  occasion,  those  glorious  doctrines  of 
the  gospel,  which  exalt  God  and  abase  the  creature.     They 
should  iiwite,  on  such  an  occasion,  those  preachers  of  the  gospel 
who  most  value  these  precious  truths,  and  exhibit  them  most 
clearly  and  abundantly  in  their  discourses  ;   and  such  as  "  see 
eye  to  eye,  and  lift  up  the  voice  together."     They  should  care- 
fully close  up  every  avenue  by  which  error  might  creep  in,  at 
such  a  time,  and  take  effectual  measures  to  have  tnith,  in  a 
full,  and  copious,  and  unbroken   stream,  pour  in   upon   the 
understanding,  and  conscience,  and  heart,  of  every  one  who 
attends.     They  should  give  place  to  no  human  contrivances, 
no  artifice,  nor  trick,  to  play  upon  the  passions,  and  produce  a 
theatrical  effect.     The  native  majesty,  and  simple  dignity  of 
irutk,  as  exhibited  by  the  prophets  and  apostles,  in  the  words 
which  the  Holy  Ghost  has  taught  in  the  Bible,  will  produce 
deeper  feeling,  and  be  attended  with  better  effects.     Let  God 
be  exhibited,  in  the  beauty  of  holiness,  loving  righteousness  and 
hating  iniquity;  let  him  be  seen,  "  making  all  things  for  himself, 
yea,  even  the  wicked  for  the  day  of  evil ;"  let  him  be  held  forth 
to  view,  as  the  Sovereign  Potter,  forming  whom  he  will  into 
vessels  of  mercy,  to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  his  grace,  and 
equally  forming  whom  he  will  into  vessels  of  wrath,  to  the  praise 
of  the  glory  of  his  justice  ;  let  him  be  seen,  determining  "to 


LETTER    ON    PROTRACTED    MI'-KTINGS.  O 

show  his  wrath  and  make  his  power  known"  in  punishing  sin, 
as  well  as  determining  to  show  his  mercy  in  the  salvation  of 
some ;  let  these  things  be  solemnly  and  earnestly  pressed  upon 
the  audience,  and  there  will  be  feeling.  Saints  will  feel ;  and 
sinners  too  will  feel,  in  view  of  these  thmgs.  So  deep  solemnity, 
and  so  earnest  attention,  I  have  never  witnessed,  under  the 
exhibition  of  any  other  subjects,  as  has  usually  attended  the 
exhibition  of  these.  Let  Christ  be  exhibited,  as  having  the 
same  feelings  with  the  Father,  delighting  injustice  as  really  as 
in  mercy ;  and  rejoicing  in  spirit,  and  saying,  "  I  thank  thee, 
O  Father,  Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  that  thou  hast  hid  these 
things  from  the  wise  and  prudent,  and  hast  revealed  them  unto 
babes ;  even  so.  Father,  for  so  it  seemed  good  in  thy  sight." 
Let  the  law  of  God  be  exhibited,  which  binds  the  sinner  to  love 
this  holy  and  righteous  Sovereign,  and  denounces  eternal  death 
as  the  just  penalty  for  the  slightest  failure,  and  which  requires 
every  one  to  "  accept  the  punishment  of  his  iniquity,"  and  say 
a?ne7i  to  the  penalty  which  it  denounces  upon  him ;  let  it  be 
seen  that  the  law  reaches  to  the  heart,  and  condemns  selfishness 
in  every  form ;  let  it  be  seen,  that  all  those  religious  affections 
and  performances  which  have  self  for  their  object,  are  trans- 
gressions of  the  law,  and  that,  for  this  reason,  "  the  ploughing  of 
the  wicked  is  sin,  and  thaprayer  of  the  wicked  is  abomination  ;" 
let  it  be  understood,  that  tlie  prayers,  and  cries,  and  tears,  and 
resolutions,  and  promises,  and  efforts,  which  sinners  make,  and 
all  the  steps  they  take  in  order  to  get  converted,  before  actual 
submission  to  God,  are  nothing  but  sin ;  and  let  them  be  warned 
against  all  such  things  so  done,  and  be  pressed  with  the  duty 
of  instant  submission  to  the  penalty  of  the  law,  and  a  cordial 
reconciliation  to  the  justice  and  sovereignty  of  God  ;  let  this 
be  earnestly  and  solemnly  done,  and  there  is  some  hope  that 
they  may  be  brought  under  conviction.  Let  them  see,  that 
God  has  a  right  to  save  or  destroy  them  as  he  pleases ;  that 
nothing  which  they  do,  and  nothing  which  christians  do,  lays 
God  under  the  least  obligation  to  save  them  ;  that  he  has  made 
no  promises  to  save  them  ;  and  that  there  is  nothing  in  the  whole 
book  of  God  which  affords  any  ground  for  any  one  yet  in  his 
sins  to  believe  that  he  shall  be  saved  ;  let  him  see  that  he  is  in 
the  hands  of  God,  and  cannot  get  out  of  his  hands,  and  that  it 
is  altogether  uncertain,  as  yet,  what  God  means  to  do  with  him; 
and  wiien  all  his  sins  appear  in  array  before  him,  and  the  enmity 
of  his  heart  against  God  is  strongly  felt,  and  he  is  pressed  in  his 
conscience  to  the  performance  of  that  duty  to  which  his  whole 
heart  is  opposed  ;  then,  he  will  be  likely  to  see  that  he  is  in  an 
evil  case,  and  that  there  is  no  hope  for  him,  unless  God  shall 
be  pleased,  not  for  his  sake,  but  for  his  own  name's  sake,  to 
stretch  out  his  almighty  arm,  and  subdue  the  enmity  of  his  heart. 
In  this  situation,  I  have  seen  some  among  you, as  I  trust,  brought, 


6  LETTER    ON    PROTRACTED    MEETINGS. 

by  the  new  creating  energy  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  to  let  go  their 
hold  upon  their  own  interest,  to  consent  to  the  penalty  of  the 
law  in  their  own  case,  and  to  be  filled  with  admiring  views  of 
the  holiness  and  justice  and  adorable  sovereignty  of  the  glorious 
God.  The  nature  of  experimental  religion  should  be  clearly 
exhibited  at  such  a  time,  and  be  carefully  distinguished  from 
all  counterfeits ;  that  chi  istians  may  see  what  is  wrong  in 
then)se]ves,  and  repent  of  it,  and  not  exalt  themselves  in  their 
own  eyes  for  that  wiiich  God  abhors  ;  and  that  those  who  are 
awakened  may  not  be  deceived  with  a  false  hope.  The  true 
nature  of  prayer  should  be  shown,  and  its  duty  urged,  the  prayer 
o{ faithin  God,  and  not  faith  in  ourselves,  that  prayer  which 
expresses  more  confidence  in  llie  wisdom  and  goodness  of  our 
Heavenly  Father,  than  in  our  own,  and  leaves  our  requests 
before  him,  to  be  granted  or  denied,  as  he  shall  see  best.  The 
office  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  should  be  shown,  in  making  men 
holy,  as  consisting,  not  merely  in  persuasion,  by  the  exhibition 
of  motives,  but  in  giving  efficacy  to  those  motives  by  his  new 
creating  energy,  by  the  same  exertion  of  almighty  power  which 
raised  Christ  from  the  dead.  And  this  should  be  done,  that 
christians  may  feel  their  dependence  upon  him,  and  realize  that 
they  are  "  his  workmanship,  created  in  Christ  Jesus  unto  good 
works ;"  and  that  sinners  may  feel,  tiwt,  though  they  are  able 
to  do  what  God  requires,  and  are  justly  condemned  for  not 
being  willing,  yet,  there  is  no  hope  that  they  ever  will  be  willing, 
unless  God  make  them  willing  in  the  day  of  his  power.  False 
religion  should  be  exposed,  in  all  those  forms  of  it  by  which 
saints  and  sinneis  are  usually  deceived,  and  to  accomplish  which 
Satan  transforms  himself  into  an  angel  of  light.  And  both 
christians  and  sinners  should  be  stripped  of  every  excuse,  and 
driven  from  every  refuge  of  lies,  that  they  may  be  effectually 
humbled,  and  brought  to  repent  and  turn  to  God. 

In  short,  I  would  have  all  ihe  exercises  of  such  a  character, 
that  the  whole  tendency  of  the  meeting  should  be,  to  present 
truth  to  the  mind,  and  press  it  upon  the  conscience ;  to  strengthen 
the  hands  of  the  faithful  minister,  to  increase  his  influence,  and 
the  influence  of  the  church,  in  their  efforts  to  maintain  the 
ascendancy  of  evangelical  sentiments,  and  to  slay  the  progress 
of  error  and  irreligion  ;  and  thus  to  promote  the  glory  of  God, 
the  peace  of  the  church,  and  the  salvation  of  men. 

But  there  are  protracted  meetings  of  a  different  character. 
I  have  been  present  at  some,  where  sentiments  were  advanced, 
and  practices  were  introduced,  which  were  exceedingly  painful 
to  me,  and  which  I  could  not,  with  a  clear  conscience,  do  any 
thing  to  countenance  ;  and  that,  both  because  they  seemed  to 
me  to  be  adapted  to  dishonor  God,  and  to  destroy  the  souls  of 
men.  And  1  have  seen  the  bare  expectation  of  such  a  meeting 
produce  ill  effects.     When  your  former  three  days'  meeting 


LETTER    ON    PROTKACTr.n    MF.r.TINGS. 

was  resolved  upon,  it  seemed  to  me  that  several  members  of 
the  church  were  looking  to  it  as  somethinji;  that  would  do  their 
work  for  them,  and  save  them  the  necessity  of  humbling  them- 
selves before  God,  and  of  keeping  their  own  hearts;  and  there 
seemed  a  very  plain  relaxation  of  personal  efforts  to  promote 
religion  in  their  own  souls,  and  in  the  souls  of  others.  Now, 
so  far  as  this  effect  is  produced,  by  a  resort  to  any  extraordinary 
measures,  I  suppose  all  will  admit  that  it  is  bad.  Another  bad 
effect  which  I  think  is  greatly  to  be  feared,  in  every  place,  is, 
that  by  a  resort  to  these  extraordinary  measures,  the  ordinary 
means  of  grace  will  come  to  be  undervalued  and  despised  ;  and 
the  stated  ministers  of  the  gospel,  in  their  orcfinary  labors,  will 
spend  their  strength,  as  to  any  good  to  their  people,  to  very  little 
purpose.  And  this  effect  I  think  was  produced  among  you  to 
some  extent,  and  the  good  work  which  was  then  in  progress 
very  much  hindered  by  it,  while  it  lasted,  and  ultimately  broken 
off,  and  entirely  stopped.  And  so  I  think  two  revivals  among 
you  before,  while  1  was  your  minister,  were  interrupted  and 
stopped,  by  the  violent  crowding  in  of  new  measures,  to  which 
the  church  and  people  had  not  been  accustomed,  and  to  which 
many  of  them  at  least  had  conscientious  objections.  While  I 
think  the  ordinary  means  of  grace  to  have  been  divinely  appoint- 
ed, I  cannot,  with  a  clear  conscience,  willingly  contribute  any 
influence  of  mine  to  bring  them  into  disrepute. 

I  have  not  yet  attended  any  protracted  meeting,  in  which  I 
did  not  hear  a  great  deal  of  low  and  vulgar  language,  adapted 
to  expose  divine  things  to  contempt;  and  that  too,  sometimes, 
from  educated  men,  who  in  this  respect  seemed  to  copy  the 
defects  of  the  ignorant  and  uneducated.  Now,  you  know,  that 
my  habit  has  been  to  study  great  plainness  of  speech,  and  to 
seek  after  language  which  should  be  intelligible  to  the  most 
uncultivated  mind.  This  I  think  is  the  duty  of  the  preacher. 
But  vulgarity  is  not  necessary  ;  and  for  one  who  is  capable  of 
any  thing  better  to  indulge  in  it,  in  the  pulpit,  is  intolerable.  It 
is  degrading  the  gospel,  and  unnecessarily  exposing  it  to  contempt. 
I  have  also  been  greatly  pained  to  hear,  on  every  such  occasion, 
more  or  less  of  language  which  I  consider  profane.  I  could 
give  you  specimens,  if  1  did  not  scruple  the  propriety  of  repeating 
the  profaneness  of  others,  even  as  a  caution  against  it.  It  is 
such  a  use  of  the  divine  name,  such  a  use  of  the  words  devil^ 
hell,  damned,  and  the  like,  as  is  commonly  heard  among  profane 
swearers.  I  was  extremely  shocked,  on  a  late  occasion,  to  hear 
a  preacher,  for  perhaps  a  (juarter  of  an  hour,  personate  the 
sinner,  and  tell  God  how  little  he  cared  for  his  favors  or  his 
frowns.  His  language,  his  action,  his  tone,  and  whole  manner, 
seemed  copied  from  that  which  is  employed  by  the  lowest  classes 
in  expressing  their  contempt  for  their  fellows  when  greatly 
provoked  by  them.     I  could  not  in  conscience  go  into  the  pulpit 


O  LETTER    ON    PROTRACTED    MEETINGS. 

with  such  a  man,  and  seem  to  countenance  by  my  presence  a 
scene,  which,  in  a  bar-room,  would  be  deemed  shockingly 
blasphemous. 

I  have  been  distressed  to  hear  the  scriptures  wrested  from 
their  plain  and  obvious  meaning,  to  support  a  favorite  theory, 
to  hear  scripture  facts  grossly  misstated,  and  a  sense  given  to 
particular  words,  and  an  emphasis  laid  upon  them,  which  neither 
the  original  nor  the  connection  would  justify;  and  that  too  by 
educated  men,  who  could  not  make  the  poor  apology  of  una- 
voidable ignorance.     I   have  seen   the  good  old  practice  of 
resorting  to  the  Bible  for  illustrations  and  proofs,  in  a  great 
measure  laid  aside  by  some  preachers,  and  the  place  supplied 
by  anecdotes  and   story  telling.     In  all  the  meetings  of  this 
description  which  1  have  attended,  there  has  appeared  to  be  a 
studious  concealment  of  those  precious  truths  of  the  gospel  which 
exalt  God  on  the  throne,  and  place  the  creature  in  the  dust. 
Those  truths  which  are  best  adapted  to  warm  the  hearts  of 
christians,  and  to  fill  the  hearts  of  sinners  with  pain,  seem  to  be 
laid  aside,  by  common  consent,  as  not  adapted  to  promote  a 
revival  of  religion,  in  modern  times.     Though  it  must  be  con- 
fessed, if  it  is  admitted  that  there  were  any  revivals  under  the 
ministry  of  Edwards,  and  Brainerd,  and  Bellamy,  and  their 
successors,  till  within  a  very  few  years,  that  those  truths  have 
been  eminently  instrumental  in  promoting  thehi,  and  indeed 
have  been  considered  essential  to  their  existence.    The  glorious 
justice  of  God,  and  his  holy  sovereignty,  his  right  to  do  what  he 
will  with  his  own,  and  his  purpose  to  form  some  into  vessels  of 
mercy  and  others  into  vessels  of  wrath,  and  the  duty  of  the 
sinner  to  be  reconciled  to  these  things,  J  have  not  heard  clearly 
exhibited  at  any  of  these  meetings.     Rarely,  indeed,  have  I 
heard  a  single  sentence,  on  such  occasions,  which  would  not 
be  approved  by  the  most  thorough  Arminian.     On  the  contrary, 
I  have  heard  several  Arminian  sentiments  plainly  stated,  and 
strongly  urged.     That  God  does  on  the  whole  desire  the  salva- 
tion of  every  sinner,  I  take  to  be  the  fundamental  error  of  both 
Arminians  and  Universalists.     The  latter  believe  he  can  and 
will  do  as  he  desires.     The  former  think  he  cannot  control  the 
heart  of  man,  and  "  turn  it  whithersoever  he  will,"  nor  use  any 
other  influence  upon  it  than  the  mere  influence  of  persuasion 
in  the  view  of  motives.     On  this  subject  I  have  not  heard  any 
other  representation  made  than  what  an  Arminian  would  make. 
I  suppose  no  other  has  been  intended.    God  has  been  represented 
as  having  a  desire  for  the  salvation  of  sinners  infinitely  strong ; 
and  some  have  plainly  declared  that  he  does  all  he  can  to  save 
every  sinner.    I  have  indeed  heard  much  said  about  the  influence 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  but  it  has  usually  been  precisely  what  an 
Arminian  would  say.     No  agency  has  been  usually  ascribed 
to  him,  in  my  hearing,  but  that  of  persuasion  by  the  exhibition. 


LETTER    ON    PROTRACTED    MEETINGS.  9 

of  motives.  The  doctrine  of  the  s/^edai  agency  of  the  Spirit  in 
the  conversion  of  sinners,  I  liave  heard  treated  with  sarcasm, 
as  if  it  furnished  the  sinner  with  an  excuse.  I  have  heard  the 
sinner  represented  as  making  tiie  plea,  ''  1  am  what  God  made 
me,"  and  heard  iiis  plea  answered  by  the  representation,  "  God 
never  made  a  sinner^  And  the  preacher,  after  endeavoring  to 
support  his  assertion,  by  representing  sin  and  holiness  as  con- 
sisting in  voluntary  exercise,  affirmed  with  great  emphasis, "  God 
cannot  create  holiness,  nor  can  he  create  sm."  Of  course,  I 
conclude,  he  would  have  his  hearers  believe  that  God  never 
made  a  saint.  And  I  see  not  why  the  reasoning  would  not 
hold  good  in  this  case,  if  it  is  in  the  other.  But,  that  the  nume- 
rous converts  of  the  present  day  are  all  mayi-made  converts,  is 
certainly  more  than  I  had  expected  any  friend  of  the  new 
measures  to  affirm.  Real  converts  must  be  such  as  are  "  Bom 
of  God — If  any  man  be  in  Christ,  he  is  a  neiu  creature, — [there 
is  a  new  creation'] — We  are  his  workmanship,  created  in  Christ 
Jesus  unto  good  works. — Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  O  God, 
and  renew  a  right  spirit  within  me. — Thy  people  shall  be  willing 
in  the  day  of  thy  power. — That  ye  may  know  what  is  the 
exceeding  greatness  of  his  power  to  us  ward  who  believe, 
according  to  the  working  of  his  mighty  power,  which  he  wrought 
in  Christ  when  he  raised  him  from  the  dead. — Drop  down,  ye 
heavens,  from  above,  and  let  the  skies  pour  down  righteousness: 
I  the  Lord  have  created  it."  In  view  of  such  language  of  scrip- 
ture as  this,  I  shudder  at  the  boldness  of  denying  that  God  can 
create  holiness;  and  I  dare  not  place  myself  in  a  situation  to 
be  considered  in  any  way  responsible  for  such  declarations. 

I  have  heard  such  an  explanation  of  the  nature  of  prayer, 
as  I  think  erroneous  in  theory,  and  highly  dangerous  in  its 
practical  consequences.  You,  as  well  as  I,  have  heard  it  said, 
that  all  right  prayer  is  dictated  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  that  it 
is  really  not  we,  but  the  Holy  Ghost  praying  in  us  ;  and  that 
we  may  be  certain,  when  we  pray  in  faith,  that  the  identical 
thing  asked  for  will  be  granted.  It  is  commonly  urged  upon 
christians  to  expect  what  they  ask  for ;  and  all  those  prayers 
which  have  not  obtained  what  they  asked  for,  have  been  con- 
demned as  abomination  in  the  sight  of  God.  Now,  I  think 
this  is  condemning  much  prayer  that  is  acceptable  with  God, 
and  thus  "  making  the  hearts  of  the  righteous  sad,  whom  God 
has  not  made  sad."  I  think  it  is  also  "  strengthening  the  hands 
of  the  wicked,  that  he  should  not  turn  (in  reality)  from  his 
wicked  way,  by  promising  him  life."  For,  when  the  sinner 
knows  that  christians  pray  fervently  for  him,  he  will  expect  to 
be  converted,  and  be  ready  to  lay  hold  on  any  change  in  his 
feelings,  and  consider  it  conversion  to  God,  when,  in  truth,  tlie 
change  has  been  merely  circumstantial,  and  not  a  change  of 
heart.     It  seems  to  me  that  I  should  feel  very  great  embarrass- 

2 


10  LETTER    ON    PROTRACTED    MEETINGS. 

ment  in  urging  this  notion  of  prayer  upon  others,  if  I  believed 
it  true  ;  as  I  should  scarcely  expect  my  hearers  would  give  me 
credit  for  being  honest  in  it.  For,  if  it  is  true,  and  all  right 
prayer  obtains  the  very  thing  asked  for,  why  do  I  not  pray  for 
the  conversion  of  every  sinner,  and  have  it  done  ?  1  could  not 
urge  upon  others  as  a  duty  that  which  I  was  compelled  to 
confess  I  had  totally  neglected  myself.  But,  I  have  heard  this 
notion  of  prayer  urged,  and  christians  told  that  if  they  will  go 
home  and  pray  thus  in  their  closets,  for  their  children,  they  may 
go  about  their  house  and  look  up  diose  children,  in  the  assured 
expectation  of  finding  them  converted.  And  when  they  had 
been  told  all  this,  I  have  seen  them  called  upon  to  rise,  and 
promise,  before  God,  and  the  world,  that  they  would  do  so.  I 
could  not  rise  to  make  such  a  promise,  a  promise  which  I  knew 
I  should  not  fulfil,  and  which  the  Bible  no  where  requires  me 
to  make ;  and  J  could  not  see,  without  amazement,  the  readi- 
ness with  which  multitudes  seemed  to  rise,  and  take  those 
tremendous  vows  upon  them  ;  when,  if  they  had  taken  one 
moment  to  consider,  they  must  have  known  they  should  every 
ane  of  them  break  their  vows  within  twenty-four  hours. 

I  have  serious  objections  to  this  whole  system  of  calling 
people  out,  to  confess,  and  promise,  and  be  prayed  for,  both  in 
the  case  of  professed  christians,  and  of  the  impenitent.  And 
I  have  chosen  rather  to  submit  to  the  reproach  of  being  repre- 
sented, from  my  own  pulpit,  in  common  with  some  of  the  best 
christians  I  know,  as  being  unwilling  to  be  prayed  for,  and  as 
practically  saying,  1  did  not  believe  there  is  a  God,  a  heaven, 
or  a  hell.  Such  remarks  you  know  were  made,  at  your  former 
protracted  meeting,  upon  those  professors  who  did  not  rise,, 
while  I  sat  in  the  pulpit,  and  some  of  you  sat  in  your  seats.  I 
supposed  the  preacher  who  did  it,  "  verily  thought  he  was  doing 
God  service,"  and  therefore  I  forgave  him.  But  I  am  not 
willing  to  do  any  thing  which  can  be  construed  into  an  approval 
of  such  things.  I  suppose  they  are  all  intended  to  produce  a 
kind  of  stage  effect,  and  are  a  part  of  a  system,  the  whole 
tendency  of  which  appears  to  me  to  be  injurious  to  the  souls 
of  men.  I  have  always  been  in  favor  of  public  confessions 
for  public  sins.  But,  they  should  be  only  for  such  sins  as  are 
public,  and  should  be  written,  and  definite,  that  there  may  be 
no  mistake  about  them  afterwards.  The  frequent  repetition  of 
general,  indefinite  confessions,  which  may  mean  any  thing  or 
nothing,  I  believe  to  be  worse  than  useless.  JVJany  years 
observation  has  convinced  me,  that  those  who  are  the  most 
ready  to  make  such  confessions,  are  not  the  most  ready  to 
reform,  nor  the  most  careful  to  live  as  they  ought  afterwards. 
For  a  church  to  renew  their  covenant,  1  think  a  proper  step,  at 
some  times  ;  but,  then,  it  should  be  the  covenant  of  the  churchy 
and  not  any  thing  and  every  thing  which  a  stranger  may 
happen  to  dictate,  according  to  his  own  fancy. 


LETTER    ON    PROTRACTED    MEETINGS.  11 

But  the  chief  design  of  these  measures,  I  suppose  to  be,  to 
have  an  effect  upon  impenitent  sinners.  And  what  effect  is 
intended  ?  Is  it  to  impress  tliem  with  the  importance  and 
solemnity  of  serious  things  ?  It  may  possibly  have  this  effect 
for  once  ;  but  I  should  expect  reflecting  men  would  look  rather 
at  the  manner  of  life  of  professed  christians,  and,  if  they  saw 
this  to  be  censistent,  would  be  far  more  deeply  impressed  by  it 
than  by  confessions,  promises,  and  professions.  I  should  think 
the  frequent  repetition  of  these  things,  and  the  little  considera- 
tion with  which  they  are  apparently  done,  would  have  the 
contrary  effect,  as  a  permanent  result ;  and  lead  the  impenitent 
to  conclude,  that  christians  themselves  regard  the  mosi  solemn 
professions  and  promises  as  a  very  light  matter.  Is  it  designed, 
by  calling  out  professed  christians  to  make  promises,  to  lead 
the  impenitent  to  expect,  that,  noiv  christians  are  about  to  pray 
for  them,  and  to  make  such  prayers  too,  as  will  certainly  issue 
in  their  conversion  ?  This  1  suppose  is  designed  ;  for,  on  one 
occasion,  after  christians  had  been  called  upon  to  rise,  in  token 
of  such  a  promise,  and,  not  anxious  sinners  merely,  but  all 
sinners  who  were  willing  to  be  prayed  for,  were  called  upon  to 
rise,  to  express  that  willingness,  1  heard  a  preacher  tell  those 
sinners  that  rose,  "  Now,  if  these  christians  do  as  they  have 
promised,  you  luill  be  converted."  And  the  next  day,  1  heard 
him  tell  other  sinners,  by  way  of  persuading  them  to  rise  also, 
that  the  first  who  rose  the  night  before,  had  found  salvation 
before  morning.  As  might  be  expected,  several  rose,  as  soon 
as  they  were  told  this,  expecting,  I  conclude,  that  they  should 
be  converted  also.  And  that  the  design  is,  to  excite  such  an 
expectation,  I  have  been  led  to  conclude,  by  the  statements 
frequently  made,  of  numbers  in  other  places  being  converted, 
in  consequence  of  their  thus  coming  forward,  and  of  those  who 
would  not  thus  come  forward  having  been  passed  by,  and  not 
converted.  Indeed,  the  whole  course  of  measures  now  pre- 
vailing, as  far  as  [  have  witnessed  it,  seems  to  be  designed,  and 
adapted,  to  excite  this  expectation.  Sinners  are  urged  to  rise, 
to  take  certain  seats,  to  kneel,  to  go  to  certain  places,  and  the 
like,  with  an  earnestness  which  indicates  that  by  doing  so  they 
are  almost  sure  of  being  converted,  and  by  refusing  al- 
most sure  of  being  lost.  And,  on  a  late  occasion,  after  a 
preacher  had  been  some  time  urging  the  impenitent  to  resort 
to  the  anxious  room  to  be  conversed  with,  he  closed  by  saying, 
as  I  took  it  down  at  the  time,  "  Go,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  ivill 
seal  you  unto  the  day  of  rpdemption.''''  No\v,  all  this  appears 
entirely  consistent  with  Arminian  sentiments,  and  with  the 
idea  that  conversion  is  the  work  of  man  ;  but  does  not  appear 
to  me  to  be  at  all  according  to  what  the  Bible  teaches  of  the 
character  of  unregenerate  doings,  and  of  the  true  state  of  the 
sinner.     It  appears  to  me  to  be  extremely  well  adapted  to 


12  LETTER    ON    PROTRACTED    MEETINGS, 

flatter  the  sinner  into  a  false  hope,  and  to  strengthen  and 
encourage  that  hope  when  once  imbibed,  and  thus  lead  to  a 
whole  Hfe  of  false  religion.  And  when,  in  addition  to  these 
measures,  the  general  strain  of  what  is  said  to  sinners  is  adapted 
to  work  upon  their  selfish  feelings  and  animal  passions,  as  most 
of  what  I  have  heard  has  been,  and  some  of  it  extremely  well 
adapted  to  work  up  those  feelings  to  a  high  pitch,*  it  would  be 
strange  if  some  affections  were  not  excited  which  they  might 
readily  mistake  for  true  religion.  When  God  is  represented  as 
desiring  their  salvation,  without  the  least  qualification,  and  that 
his  desire  for  it  is  infinitely  strong,  what  impenitent  sinner,  that 
has  the  least  seriousness  of  mind,  is  not  prepared  to  be  pleased  ? 
If"  sinners  love  those  that  love  them,"  as  our  Lord  assures  us, 
they  can  love  such  a  being  as  God  is  represented  to  be,  without 
any  change  of  heart.  A  God  all  mercy,  is  just  such  a  God  as 
sinners  desire.  Will  it  be  said  that  his  justice  is  also  brought 
into  view,  and  that  the  terrors  of  hell  are  exhibited  ?  True ; 
but  in  what  light  are  they  exhibited  ?  Is  it  not  commonly  in 
a  light  to  which  the  selfish  heart  will  as  readily  accord  ?  God 
is  angry  with  the  sinner  because  he  neglects  his  own  salvation, 
and  will  punish  him  forever  because  he  would  not  consent  to 
be  saved.  Is  not  this  the  sole  reason  commonly  presented  ? 
1  have  rarely  heard  any  thing  else  urged.  And  while  such 
views  of  God  are  presented,  as  are  agreeable  to  the  selfish 
heart,  and  every  thing  in  the  Bible,  which  the  sinner  is  permit- 
ted to  hear,  is  presented  in  the  light  of  interest ;  and  while 
conversion  is  continually  represented  as  a  thing  of  so  very  easy 
accomplishment,  what  wonder  is  it,  if  sinners  generally  who 
can  be  prevailed  upon  to  attend  to  the  subject  sufficiently  to 
feel  serious  at  all,  should  obtain  a  hope,  and  think  they  are 
converted  ?  The  wonder  to  me  is,  that  any,  who  can  be  made 
to  believe  these  representations  to  be  correct,  should  fail  of 
obtaining  a  hope.  The  wonder  is,  that  whole  congregations 
are  not  converted  at  once,  with  such  a  conversion  as  this, 
without  being  obliged  to  meet  a  second  time.  But,  are  they 
truly  converted  to  God,  in  this  way  ?  This  is  a  very  serious 
and  important  question  ;  one  which  deserves  the  careful  and 
solemn  consideration  of  all.  How  many  of  them  are  true 
converts,  is  not  necessary  for  me  to  know.  I  would  not  limit 
the  Holy  One  of  Israel.  I  do  not  know  how  much  truth  must 
be  before  the  mind,  in  order  to  render  it  consistent  for  God  to 
change  the  sinner's  heart.  But,  so  much  appears  to  me  very 
plain :  Such  measures,  and  such  instruction  as  I  have  de- 
scribed, are  extremely  well  adapted  to  produce  a  false  hope, 
and  to  promote  selfish  religion ;  and  for  that  reason,  I  cannot 
in  conscience  adopt  them,  or  countenance  them.  I  should 
expect  to  be  chargeable  with  the  blood  of  perishing  sinners,  if 
I  aid.     I  have  not  learned  from  the  Bible,  that  any  sinner, 


LETTER    ON    PROTRACTED    MEETINGS.  13 

while  such,  has  any  reason  to  expect  that  he  shall  be  saved. 
I  have  not  learned  that  he  can  place  any  dependence  upon 
any  thing  that  he  has  done,  or  upon  any  thing  that  others  have 
done,  till  he  actually  repents  ;  but  that  it  depends  solely  upon 
the  sovereign  pleasure  of  that  God  "  who  hath  mercy  on  whom 
he  will  have  mercy,  and  hardeneth  whom  he  will."  I  sup- 
pose that  every  promise  he  makes,  every  resolution  he  forms, 
every  step  he  takes,  with  a  selfish  heart,  or  from  motives  of 
personal  interest,  is  nothing  but  sin.  And  I  believe,  that,  so 
long  as  he  is  acdng  with  the  expecta-tion  of  being  converted, 
he  is  not  likely  to  exercise  that  submission  to  the  justice  of 
God,  which  he  must  exercise,  or  be  unprepared  for  mercy. 

And  1  think  the  confidence  which  is  usually  expressed  in 
the  christian  chaTacter  of  those  who  obtain  a  hope,  is  adapted 
greatly  to  increase  the  danger  of  their  being  finally  and  fatally 
deceived.  They  are  commonly  spoken  of  as  converted,  with- 
out any  qualifications.  And  in  some  instances  1  have  witnessed 
this  expression  of  a  hope  for  them  in  very  strong  terms,  in 
their  hearing,  when  I  could  discover  no  grounds  for  it  all.  In 
one  instance,  after  an  address  well  adapted  to  work  upon  the 
sympathies,  and  excite  the  natural  gratitude  of  the  sinner  to- 
wards God,  and  which  produced  a  general  burst  of  feeling,  all 
who  were  willing  now  to  be  reconciled  to  God  were  called 
upon  to  rise.  Some  did  so,  and  among  the  rest  a  little  girl  too 
young  to  have  much  sense  of  what  was  meant,  upon  which  the 
preacher  exclaimed,  "  Here  is  another  little  daughter  come  to 
Jesus."  And  when  a  young  man  said,  "  1  will  submit,  come 
life,  or  come  death,"  the  preacher  exclaimed,  "  bless  the  Lord, 

0  my  soul."  And  on  prayer  being  offered,  the  persons  who 
had  risen  were  alluded  to,  as  if  they  had  now  been  converted. 
The  young  man  I  conversed  with  some  weeks  after,  and  he 
had  then,  by  his  own  account,  about  lost  all  his  seriousness. 

1  think  1  have  seen  a  very  strong  solicitude,  expressed  in  many 
ways,  to  have  as  many  as  possible  think  themselves  converted  ; 
and  if  they  can  only  be  made  to  think  so,  to  speak  of  them  as 
such,  and  hurry  them  into  the  church,  before  they  have  had 
any  time  to  examine  themselves,  or  any  opportunity  to  gain 
any  scriptural  evidences  to  themselves  or  afford  any  to  others, 
by  the  fruit  of  a  holy  life.  Indeed,  it  seems  to  me,  that  oppor- 
tunity for  sober  reflection,  and  a  calm  looking  at  truth,  and 
self-examination  by  it,  are  regarded  as  unfavorable  and  dan- 
gerous. The  idea  that  sinners  must  be  brought  under  thorough 
conviction  of  sin,  before  they  will  repent,  seems  to  be  laid 
aside,  and  the  use  of  means  to  produce  such  conviction  in 
sinners,  considered  quite  unnecessary. 

Means  of  excitement  seem  to  be  contrived,  of  almost  every 
possible  kind,  and  the  use  of  them  continued  in  almost  every 
possible  way,  that  the  sinner  may  have  no  time  to  think,  nor 


14  LETTER    ON    PROTRACTED    MEETINGS. 

to  read  his  Bible,  nor  to  compare  his  heart  with  its  requirementi?. 
1  do  not  object  to  the  sinner's  being  told  that  it  is  his  duty  to 
repent  now^  without  waiting  for  further  reflection,  or  reading, 
or  self-examination.  It  has  been  my  uniform  practice,  as  you 
know,  to  tell  him  this.  Yet,  while  I  tell  him  he  ought  to  repent 
now  of  all  the  sin  he  is  conscious  of,  and  love  all  the  truth  he 
knows,  I  feel  bound  (o  lell  him  tiiat  he  ought  also  to  look  into 
his  own  heart,  and  compare  it  with  the  divine  requirements ; 
that  he  ought  to  read  his  Bible,  and  look  at  truth  and  duty ; 
that  he  ought  especially,  to  look  at  the  divine  character,  in  all 
its  parts;  and  by  all  these  means  endeavor  to  obtain  a  dearer 
view  of  his  sins,  in  their  number,  and  magnitude,  and  aggra- 
vation, and  repent  of  all,  and  a  clearer  view  of  God,  in  his 
whole  character,  and  iove  it  all.  1  do  not  think  it  possible  that 
there  should  be  any  more  true  religious  feeling,  than  there  is  of 
a  correct  view  of  the  objects  of  religious  feeling.  And  some 
degree  of  calm  reflection  upon  divine  things,  and  of  attentive 
looking  at  them,  is  necessary  to  such  a  view.  Every  high 
excitement  of  the  passions,  it  is  well  known,  is  unfavorable  to 
calm  reflection.  Just  so  far  as  the  mind  is  agitated,  just  so  far 
is  it  disqualified  from  that  steady  contemplation  of  divine  things 
which  is  necessary  to  the  existence  of  proper  affections  towards 
them.  I  do  not  mean  that  nothing  should  be  said  to  careless 
sinners  to  arouse  their  fears.  They  need  to  have  them  aroused 
in  a  sufficient  degree  to  secure  their  attention  to  truth  and  duty. 
When  that  is  accomplished,  any  further  excitement  of  them, 
to  such  a  degree  as  to  hinder  their  attention  to  truth  and  duty, 
and  render  their  views  of  them  indistinct  and  confused,  must 
be  injurious.  Both  christians  and  sinners  should  have  time  for 
the  duties  of  the  family,  and  for  the  duties  of  the  closet.  Public 
meetings  never  can  supply  the  place  of  these  ;  and  they  ought 
not,  as  they  frequently  do,  by  being  both  late  and  early,  to 
render  proper  attention  to  these  impossible.  In  some  late 
instances,  which  have  been  published  by  those  who  approve  of 
them,  meetings  have  been  continued  all  night,  as  well  as  all 
day,  for  several  days  and  nights  in  succession.  And  in  some 
instances,  the  practice  has  been  introduced  of  several  praying 
aloud  at  a  time,  and  so  loud  as  to  drown  the  voice  of  him  who 
was  professedly  leading  in  prayer,  as  I  have  heard  publicly 
stated  by  those  who  were  present.  In  some  instances,  impeni- 
tent sinners  have  been  called  upon  to  pray  aloud,  in  the  anxious 
meeting,  as  many  as  possible  at  a  time.  In  other  instances, 
while  one  is  praying  aloud  for  sinners,  others  are  talking  to 
them,  and  pressing  them  to  submit  now,  while  the  prayer  is 
made.  In  many  places,  and  to  a  great  extent,  and  in  some 
very  public  meetings,  females  have  been  allowed  and  encourag- 
ed to  pray  and  exhort,  notwithstanding  that  the  Bible  so  plainly 
commands  them  to  be  silent.     Now,  all  these  things  are  proba- 


LETTER    ON    PROTRACTED    MEETINGS.  15 

biy  intended  to  produce  exciteuunit,  and  they  are  certainly  well 
adapted  to  do  it,  and  such  excitement,  such  a  tumult  of  the 
passions,  and  such  confusion  of  thought,  as  seem  to  me  to 
render  it  next  to  impossible  for  any  one  to  know  whether  he 
exercises  any  true  religious  affections  or  not.  And  to  diminish, 
in  the  same  ratio  that  they  are  increased,  all  probability  of  the 
true  conversion  of  those  who  are  exposed  to  their  influence. 
I  do  not  say  these  things  because  I  think  there  is  any  too  much 
feeling,  as  to  its  quantity.  Far  from  it.  I  think  there  is  much 
too  little.  I  greatly  miss  that  deep  and  solemn  feeling,  both  in 
christians  and  sinners,  to  which  1  have  been  formerly  accus- 
tomed in  revivals  of  religion  ;  and  which  I  think  would  still  be 
witnessed,  if  the  animal  passions  were  kept  down,  and  the  full 
blaze  of  truth  was  made  to  shine  into  the  mind,  and  to  press 
upon  the  conscience  and  the  heart,  as  was  the  practice  of  our 
fathers  in  times  of  revival. 

I  am  aware  that  many  will  reply  to  the  objections  which  I 
have  stated,  as  has  been  commonly  replied  to  all  objections, 
for  some  years  past,  that  these  measures  are  successful,  and 
therefore  have  the  seal  of  the  Holy  Spirit  stamped  upon  them. 
And  this  appeal  to  success,  as  proof  that  any  thing  is  right, 
instead  of  appealing  to  the  Bible,  is  to  me,  one  of  the  most 
painful  indications  that  those  who  do  it  are  wrong,  and  have 
gone  far  from  the  right  way.  The  same  argument  might  be 
pleaded  in  favor  of  the  worst  systems  of  Ailse  religion  which 
have  been  contrived  since  the  world  began  ;  it  would  justify 
the  falsehood  of  Jacob,  who  obtained  the  blessing  by  a  deceitful 
and  wicked  contrivance  ;  and  it  would  condemn  the  Old  Tes- 
tament prophets  and  saints  in  general,  and  even  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  himself,  who  had  occasion  to  say,  "  who  hath  believed 
our  report  ?"  But,  "to  the  law  and  to  the  testimony,"  w& 
must  resort ;  "  if  they  speak  not  according  to  this  word,  it  is 
because  there  is  no  light  in  them."  According  to  this  standard^, 
and  not  according  to  our  success,  must  vye  all  be  tried  in  the 
great  day. 

On  the  whole,  so  far  as  my  observation  has  extended,  there 
has  been,  and  is,  a  strong  tendency  to  Arminianism,  and  in- 
creased opposition  to  the  doctrines  of  grace.  The  fundamenial' 
principles  of  Arminianism  are  strongly  urged,  and  dwelt  upon, 
and  embraced,  and  the  whole  system  seems  to  be  fast  coming 
in.  Attachment  to  the  Calvinistic  doctrines,  those  doctrines 
which  used  to  be  considered  essential  to  revivals,  is  now  made 
a  ground  of  reproach  ;  and  a  disposition  to  insist  upon  them,  is 
considered  not  oidy  injudicious,  but  wrong.  Though,  indeed, 
if  it  were  wrong,  1  do  not  think  it  exists  to  such  an  extent  in< 
this  region,  as  needs  to  create  any  alarm.  Silence  respecting 
them,  while  the  contrary  doctrines  are  inculcated,  would  soon 
obliterate  them  from  the  churches.     Selfishness  is  natural  to 


16  LETTER    ON    PROTRACTED    MEETINGS. 

fallen  man  ;  and  if  it  is  encouraged  but  indirectly,  it  will  be 
very  sure  to  prevail.  That  form  of  it  which  consists  in  the 
pursuit  of  worldly  good,  may  be  strongly  condemned,  and  that 
form  of  it  which  consists  in  making  our  eternal  interest  our 
great  object,  may  be  more  deeply  rooted  and  more  extensively 
prevalent.  This  has  been  the  tendency  of  nearly  all  the  instruc- 
tion I  have  heard  at  such  meetings,  and  of  the  whole  system  of 
measures  pursued.  The  grand  difficulty  in  the  way  of  the  sin- 
ner's conversion  has  been  represented  to  be  the  love  of  worldly 
gratifications ;  and  sinners  have  been  exhorted  to  part  with 
these  for  the  joys  of  heaven.  And,  to  submit  to  this,  has  been 
the  self  denial  to  which  sinners  have  been  urged.  Instead  of 
being  called  upon  to  submit  to  the  justice  of  God,  they  have 
been  called  upon  to  submit  to  be  saved,  as  if  every  sinner  did  not 
already  wish  to  be  saved.  The  glory  of  God  is,  indeed,  often 
spoken  of;  but  it  is  the  glory  of  his  mercy.,  and  not  the  glory  of 
his  justice  and  sovereignty.  And  such  a  view  is  given  of  God 
and  his  glory  as  entirely  suits  the  selfish  heart.  1  do  not 
remember  to  have  heard  any  warnings  or  cautions  against 
being  deceived  with  a  selfish  religion  ;  and  I  suppose  that  such 
warnings  and  cautions,  if  they  should  happen  to  be  given  by 
any,  would  be  considered  out  of  place,  and  be  strongly  con- 
demned, as  my  reading  the  experience  of  David  Brainerd,  once 
was,  by  some  among  you. 

This  tendency  to  Arniinianism,  in  theory,  in  experience,  and 
in  jjraciice,  and  this  encouragement  of  selfish  religion,  to  the  ruin 
of  souls,  as  I  believe  it  is,  is  what  I  feel  bound  in  duty  not  to 
promote,  nor  approve,  nor  countenance. 

I  could  say  more,  my  dear  friends,  on  these  subjects.  I 
could  give  more  examples  of  instruction,  and  more  examples 
of  measures,  which  seem  to  me  full  of  error,  and  full  of  dan- 
ger. I  have  but  just  touched  upon  some  of  the  prominent 
points,  that  you  may  see  some  of  the  reasons  why  1  hesitate 
to  comply  with  your  request,  as  at  present  advised.  It  has  not 
been  my  object  to  impeach  the  motives,  or  question  the  sincerity 
of  others,  who  think  differently.  When  1  preach,  I  claim  the 
right  to  preach  my  sentiments,  a  right  which  I  am  as  ready  to 
concede  to  others,  as  to  claim  for  myself — expecting  that  both 
they  and  we  shall  give  account,  each  for  his  own  sentiments 
and  practices,  before  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ. 

These  thoughts  have  been  thrown  together  in  haste,  in  the 
little  scraps  of  time  that  I  could  command  from  my  other  en- 
gagements, and  may  not  have  all  that  connection  and  clearness, 
which  is  desirable.  And  on  this  account,  I  trust,  you  will 
pardon  any  defects  of  this  kind  which  you  may  discover,  and 
believe  me  to  be,  with  sincere  affection, 
Your  friend  and  servant  in  the  gospel, 

WILLIAM  R.  WEEKS. 


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